Owner cited after his bulldogs attack horse in Warren

WARREN, Maine — The owner of two American bulldogs reported to have attacked a horse Friday afternoon has been issued a summons by the town’s animal control officer.

Warren Animal Control Officer Larry Reed said MIke Robinson, 53, of Warren, is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Rockland District Court on Nov. 18 for failure to control his dogs.

The officer said, however, that the dogs had been let out of the house by Robinson’s oldest son and that Robinson has been very cooperative and agreed to pay all the expenses resulting from the injuries to the horse.

Molly, a 16-year-old paint horse, suffered wounds to her neck, chest and belly, according to her owner Janice Goodwin. Goodwin said Monday she expected to pick up Molly on Wednesday to bring her back home. Molly was treated Friday evening by a veterinarian and was then taken to Annabessacook Veterinary Clinic in Monmouth.

The clinic would not give out Molly’s condition Tuesday, saying they did not have permission from the owner.

Goodwin had ridden Molly to Beth’s Farm Market to get an apple Friday afternoon at about 4. While riding home on Western Road, two dogs came out of a driveway and began nipping at the horse’s tail. Goodwin said she noticed that two children came to the end of the driveway to call their dogs, but the pets did not obey.

She turned Molly around, hoping the dogs would return home. Instead, the dogs became aggressive and attacked the horse.

When the animals began attacking, Goodwin dismounted to prevent the horse from bolting. The dogs did not attack Goodwin.

Deputy Lance Mitchell of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office stated in his report that about 10 citizens stopped and helped get the dogs away from the horse.

Reed said one of the dogs was injured and had to undergo surgery after it was kicked in the head by the horse during the attack.